The Gunstock Shop

It’s unclear when and where the first American gunsmith produced the first long rile. Today, gun historians believe an unknown German gunsmith crafted the first one in Pennsylvania sometime around 1750.

While the ability to point and shoot may be critical to self-defense shooting, this isn’t as important when you’re hunting. If you’re looking for the best weapons to make accurate sighted shots, we’re always happy to share our knowledge with you.

During World War II, the service rifle of the American Army was the bolt-action Springfield; the Russian army preferred the Moshin-Nagant (also bolt-action) while the Japanese army used the bolt-action Arisaka rifle.

When shooting a shotgun, the sequence of events is important. Mounting, or bringing the shotgun into shooting position, requires resting your cheek against the stock first, and then placing the stock against your shoulder. If the order is reversed, you will not be accurate.

Changing the barrel length of a firearm will affect how it is fired, so take your altered firearm to the range to practice, especially if this is a weapon you plan to use regularly.

Believe it or not, guns have actually had a pretty big impact on the art world. High-quality drawing paper is often called "cartridge paper" because of early rifle tech. Bundles of gunpowder and a slug of ammunition, or a cartridge, would be wrapped in the thick paper.

Did you know that the AK-47 is the most widely used firearm in the entire world? The Israeli version of this rifle is known as the “Galil.”

The break-action shotgun-machete TP-82 is still the world’s only real space gun. It was issued to Russian cosmonauts as a means to defend themselves against bears after coming back from space and landing in the Siberian wilderness.

If you’re in Italy, take time to visit the Beretta Museum in Brescia. It traces the long history of Beretta gun-making, and the collection contains more than 900 guns and related artifacts, including guns that once belonged to John Adams, Napoleon and other historic figures.

One of the benefits of revolvers is that they are very strong. The design of the gun itself provides a sturdy platform for higher calibers such as the .454 Casull, 500 S&W, and 44 Magnum.

Gun shows are a great place to check out a large selection of guns and accessories. Most retail gun stores attend gun shows regularly and they can be a great place to handle a number of different types of guns and get a feel for what you're looking for specifically.

In the 1500s, King Henry VIII called for leading gunsmiths across Europe to live and work in London. Gunsmiths set up shops near the Tower of London, and began to train British citizens in the skill.